The locomotives of 4000-4500 horsepower would be the highest capacity locos the PR ever had.

“Within three years or so, these locomotives would recover their cost Rs500 million ($5 million) per unit. The basic purpose to procure such high-capacity locomotives is to transport coal for coal-fired power plants under construction in Punjab," said Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique.

The Risalpur Locomotive Factory was being made operational by including a clause for transfer of technology in the future agreements for locos procurement. Tenders for the procurement of 20 more locomotives, each of 2000-2500 horsepower capacity, were being called. Two locomotives would be in the CBU form while the remaining 18 would be assembled at the Risalpur factory, said the minister.

The PR would require $10 billion to $12 billion to become one of the modern railways of the region. The amount would be spent to revamp all the dilapidated infrastructure. ■